Match Preview
AFC Sudbury vs Bury Town
Stadium: The MEL Group Stadium (Capacity: 2,500)
Table Position: 1st
Top Scorer: Nnamdi Nwachuka (30)
Manager: Rick Andrews
Nicknames: Yellows, The Suds
2022/23 average attendance: 320
Stadium: Ram Meadow (Capacity: 3,500)
Table Position: 10th
Top Scorer: Cemal Ramadan (17)
Manager: Ben Chenery
Nicknames: The Blues
2022/23 average attendance: 554
The 27th of December sees a Suffolk derby take place as local rivals AFC Sudbury and Bury Town face off in the Isthmian Division One North.
The Suds currently sit top of the league and have won four games on the spin whilst the Blues are 10th, two games unbeaten and six points off the playoffs.
On paper this game should be a home win for Rick Andrews’ men thanks to their 100% home record this term and their ability to have scored in every single league game this season. Although Ben Chenery’s side do have the best defensive record in the division having conceded only 11 goals so far this season.
The two sides have already faced off twice this campaign with AFC Sudbury enjoying more success from these meetings. In August a second half brace from Nnamdi Nwachuka saw Sudbury come from behind to draw 2-2. A week later the Suds and the Blues would face off once more in the FA Cup however on this occasion it was a routine 3-0 win for the Suds thanks to Nwachuka and a Joshua Stokes brace.
The recent head-to-head record between the sides is pretty even. Even though Sudbury are three games unbeaten against Bury, the Blues have only picked up one loss in their last five visits to the MEL Group Stadium.
Last season also saw Bury come away from Sudbury as 4-1 winners as an incredible first half from the visitors saw them through to a comfortable victory.
Key Players
Nnamdi Nwachuka
AFC Sudbury’s top scorer Nnamdi Nwachuka is in the form of his career right now with the 28-year-old having already netted 30 goals this term.
Nwachuka scored three goals for Bury Town in the 2013/14 a tally he matched this term in the two games against his former employers earlier in the season.
Nwachuka has seven goals in Sudbury’s last five games and has previously represented Maldon & Tiptree, Welling United and Marlow Town.
Cemal Ramadan
Bury’s biggest threat also comes from their top scorer. Cemal Ramadan has notched 17 goals for the Blues this season, including an effort in the reverse meeting in August.
The Irishman came through the youth ranks at Ipswich Town and during his time at Portman Road enjoyed loan spells with Bury and Maldon & Tiptree before leaving the Tractor Boys for Royston Town in 2016.
The 26-year-old also picked up two caps for Ireland at Under 18 level.
They’ve played for both
Cruis Nydazayo
Midfielder Cruis Nydazayo returned to Bury this summer having spent half of 2021/22 with AFC Sudbury.
The 25-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the East of England representing the likes of: Wroxham, Lowestoft Town and Great Yarmouth.
Nydazayo’s first spell at the Ram Meadow lasted two seasons before leaving for Sudbury last summer where he stayed up until January.
Nydazayo has two goals for the Blues this campaign; one of which came in the reverse fixture against Sudbury in August.
Lewis O’Malley
Another summer arrival at Ram Meadow from Sudbury, Lewis O’Malley arrived at Bury having spent three years with the Suds.
O’Malley came through the youth ranks at Cambridge United before departing for the Yellows in 2019.
After three terms with Sudbury, O’Malley joined Bury in May and so far has one goal to his name after scoring the only goal in a recent 1-0 win over Heybridge Swifts.
Form
AFC Sudbury
W – 2-0 vs Lowestoft Town (A)
W – 5-0 vs Great Wakering Rovers (H)
W – 2-1 vs Brentwood Town (A)
W – 2-1 vs Maldon & Tiptree (H)
Bury Town
L – 0-1 vs Stowmarket Town (H)
L – 0-1 vs Grays Athletic (A)
D – 0-0 vs Brentwood Town (A)
W – 1-0 vs Heybridge Swifts (H)
Head-to-head
03/09/2022: Bury Town 0-3 AFC Sudbury
29/08/2022: Bury Town 2-2 AFC Sudbury
18/04/2022: Bury Town 0-1 AFC Sudbury
01/01/2022: AFC Sudbury 1-4 Bury Town
04/02/2020: AFC Sudbury 3-0 Bury Town
My Prediction: AFC Sudbury 3-1 Bury Town
By Nathan Williams
hardly
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